Substructure for bridges



(No Model.)

W E. PHELPS. SUBSTRUGTUEE FOR BRIDGES.

No. 579,007. Patented Mar. 16,1897.

THE mums PETERS co, Pumuuwo WASHINGTON, n c

WILLIAM E. PHELPS, OF ELMVVOOD, ILLINOIS.

SUBSTRUCTURE FQR BRIDGES.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 579,007, dated March 16, 1897.

A li ation fil d NovemherlQ, 1895. Serial No. 569,400. (No model.)

To ctZZ whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, IVILLIAM E. PHELPS, a citizen of the United States, residing at Elmwood, in the county of Peoria and State of Illinois,have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Substructures for Bridges, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to substructures for bridges; and the main object of the invention is to provide substructures or under structures for bridges which will combine the maximum of strength and efficiency with a minimum of cost and which will be structurally simple and hence easily erected from the parts made in accordance with the invention; and to the end of carrying out this main object of my invention the improvement consist's, in its main feature, in a substructure formed of railway-rails in vertical or substantially vertical positions and supported at their lower ends by base-plates having upwardly-projecting bosses or flanges with apertures which conform to the cross-sectional shape of the rails and receive the lower ends thereof; and it further consists in railwayrails in substantially vertical position with cap-plates formed of lower parts having confronting faces which conform to the contour of the rails, are fitted to the upper ends of. the rails, and projecting above the rail or rails form jaws between which are seated and which as bolsters receive and hold horizontal or substantially horizontal rails as supports for the bridge; and it further consists in a combination embodying the two main features of the improvement last described.

These main features of my invention are hereinafter described and made the subjectmatter of claims hereto appended.

In carrying out these main objects of the invention subsidiary improvements have been evolved which consist in novel structural features and novel combinations of parts, the separate and collective operations of which parts, their structural peculiarities, novel organizations, and novel combinations are hereinafter fully described and made the subjectmatter of claims hereto appended.

Mechanism embodying the structural peculiarities of the different parts, the disposition of the different parts to act together in the composite body, the substructure of a bridge,

and the combinations forming the subject matter of the improvements are illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which- Figure 1 is a perspective showing the framework for an abutment or pier, the case may be, for a bridge with the legs formed of single T-shaped railway-rails; Fig. 2, a perspective showing one of the legs formed of two T-shaped railwayrails and other parts, as adapted thereto; Fig. 3, an enlarged sectional plan in the line 3 3 in Fig. 2; Fig. 4, an enlarged sectional plan in the line 4 4 in Fig. 1; Fig. 5, an enlarged perspective of one part of the bolster and cap-plate of Fig. l with its side which goes next to the rail or single railleg to the front; Fig. 6, an enlarged perspective of one part of the bolster and cap-plate of Fig. 2 with its side which goes next to the two-rails to the front; Fig. 7, an enlarged perspective of the base-plate shown at Fig. 1; Fig. 8, an enlarged sectional plan in the line 8 8 in Fig. 1.

The legs A of the substructure shown are ordinary railway T-rails A. As shown at Fig. 1 a single rail is used to form this member or leg A, and two of such rails, same figure, are shown as forming supports for a T-rail .B, 011 which the bridge is carried. The base-plate O, which receives and fixes the lower end of each leg A, is formed of a lower part or plate 0', which is shown as fixed to a nudsill c by bolts 0 and of a flange 0 which projects upwardly from the plate 0'. The flange c is preferably integral with the plate 0', but may be bolted or otherwise fixed thereto. These base-plates C may be seated on any suitable natural foundation or 011 any other suitable artificial foundation than that shown, if preferred. The aperture or socket 0 formed by the flange 0 in its cross-section has a conformity of contour or outline with the crosssection of the railway T-rail, the lower end of which T-rail it receives. A bolt 0 Fig. 8, which passes through the flange c and the web of the T-rail is preferably used to more firmly secure the T-rail to the base'plate than it would be without such bolt and when made to depend merely on the weight of the superstructure above for its stability in this respect.

The cap-plates D, for use with the single rail-leg of Fig. 1, are each formed, preferably,

of two plates d, each of which has a conformity of contour or outline with the confronting side of a rail, Fig. 4:, and each of which projects above the rail, Fig. 1, and carries at its upper end a bolster or jaws d, Fig. 5, through or between which the T-rail can be slid into the position shown at Fig. 1 to serve as a support for the bridge. The cap-plates D are preferably secured to the upper end of the rail by bolts 61 which pass through the plates (1 and the rail. It will be evident that while within the purview of my invention one of the plates 61, with its jaws d, would answer the purpose of supporting the rail B when bolted to the rail substantially as shown, and also that by forming the base-plates O with jaws d on the opposite side of the plate 0 from the flange 0 such base-plate may be used as a cap-plate at the upper end of the rail by placing such base-plate with the flange side downward to receive the upper end of the rail or leg A and the jaws d upward to receive the rail B, in same manner as hereinbefore described.

At Fig. 2 my improvement is shown in which the leg A is formed of two railway T-rails A, placed side by side and each leg retained in position at its lower end by a base-plate O with a flange 0 having a socket 0 which socket has in its cross-section a conformity of outline with the cross-section of the two rails A. The upper end of each leg is retained in position by a cap-plate D, the lower part d of which has a conformity of contour or outline with the confronting side of the two rails A and is fixed thereto by bolts d The part 61 and jaws d on its upper end constitute a capplate D. One of the cap-plates shown at Fig. 2 will answer the purpose of receiving and holding the rail B, but two are preferred, as shown at Figs. 2 and 3. The flanges of this cap-plate have upturned ends d which are fitted to the sides of the rail B, and a bolt 61*, Fig. 2, passes between the ends (1 and through the web of the rail B. This or different modifications, including legs formed of a plurality of rails A, either vertical and paralleling each otheror inclined relatively to each other and held in place at their lower ends by baseplates with flanges and sockets fitted to the rails and at their upper ends by cap-plates having a conformity of contour or outline to the leg, I consider as within the purview of my invention and as embodied in my claims hereto appended.

The structure shown at Fig. 1 can be used for a bridge-abutment in an evident manner by simply locating the mudsill where found necessary in different cases. Either side of this abutment can be made the water side, and against the other or bank side planking or sheeting of wood or iron can be used. Formed, as shown, or in accordance with any diiferent modifications thereof the structure can be used for an abutment or for a pier, the structural intention of the organization being to furnish a simple, strong, cheap, and durable abutment or pier for bridges in which old, worn, and condemned railway T-rails may be used. These abutments made of old T-rails are especially applicable in bridges such as shown in Letters Patent No. 530,265, granted to Jason C. Fenn December 4:, 1894:, for improvement in bridges.

I desire it understood that I do not limit myself to the details of construction shown, but regard myself as entitled to such variations therefrom as fall within the scope of my invention.

\Vhat I claim as new is- 1. In an iron-bridge structure and in combination substantially as described, a support, legs thereon, cap-plates at the upper end of each leg, each consisting of lower parts or portions fashioned to closely fit the sides of the legs, and oppositely-eXtendi-ng jaws at their upper ends, means for rigidly securing the cap-plates to the legs, and rail members threaded through and clamped between the jaws in a position transverse to the lower portion of the cap-plates.

2. In an iron bridge and in combination substantially as described, a base, legs extending up therefrom, cap-plates on the upper ends of the legs each consisting of two like sections having lower portions fashioned to closely fit the sides of the legs, and oppositely-extending jaw-sections, means for rigidly securing the two sections of the plates respectively on opposite sides of the legs, and rails threaded through and clamped between the jaws in a position transverse to the lower portion of the cap-plates.

In testimony whereof I my signature in presence of two witnesses.

IVILLIAM E. PHELPS.

IVitnesses:

L. A. BOWERS, Z. L. GILBERT. 

